The ceasefire in Ukraine is shaky at best, and has failed to stop fighting in the eastern part of the country. And despite ongoing negotiations with Ukraine and Western leaders, it seems that's exactly how Russian President Vladimir Putin likes it.

Updated

01/13/2015 - 4:45pm

The French prime minister, Manuel Valls, told parliament in Paris that the country is ‘at war’ with terrorism and radical Islamists. But he stressed France is not at war with Islam. Ten thousand troops are being deployed to protect potential targets, like Jewish schools.

Attacks in the French cities of Tours and Dijon over the weekend left pedestrians and police officers dead, and France wondering if radical groups like ISIS are taking the fight into their cities. But despite the attackers' seeming links to radical Islam, the jury is still out.

French President Francois Hollande won't go hungry Thursday night. He will host two separate state dinners — one for President Obama and another for Russian President Vladimir Putin. A White House chef explains the dance between food, politics and diplomacy.

French elections this past weekend have shaken up the political system. A prime minister resigned, a woman-immigrant was elected mayor of Paris for the first time, and a far-right fringe party may be gaining some serious traction among voters.

Francois Hollande can't catch a break. He's not only unpopular, but people say he's boring. The answer? A new speechwriter, who is also a rapper. And Pakistanis are buzzing about a new $600 designer shoe that looks a lot like a popular $6 Pakistani sandal. Also, is an Indian guru dead or just in a deep meditation? All that, in today's Global Scan.

This weekend, French President François Hollande confirmed that he is separating from his partner Valérie Trierweiler. The French seemed to shrug at the news of Hollande's affair with actress Julie Gayet, seeing love and politics as separate. But France's neighbors and its former colonies don't necessarily agree.

French President François Hollande is having a hard time getting any traction with his political agenda. Meanwhile, US officials are having a tough time moving past the diplomatic row with India over a diplomat accused of mistreating her housekeeper. And in Italy, a politician is finally saying enough is enough — with the racism she faces.

Attacks in the French cities of Tours and Dijon over the weekend left pedestrians and police officers dead, and France wondering if radical groups like ISIS are taking the fight into their cities. But despite the attackers' seeming links to radical Islam, the jury is still out.

French elections this past weekend have shaken up the political system. A prime minister resigned, a woman-immigrant was elected mayor of Paris for the first time, and a far-right fringe party may be gaining some serious traction among voters.

The ceasefire in Ukraine is shaky at best, and has failed to stop fighting in the eastern part of the country. And despite ongoing negotiations with Ukraine and Western leaders, it seems that's exactly how Russian President Vladimir Putin likes it.

At some level, all countries push new citizens to integrate and that's where civics and language citizenship tests come in. But when you take a longer look at how citizenship exams are developed worldwide, you realize they can have less to do with methodology than promoting a strict cultural identity.

Attacks in the French cities of Tours and Dijon over the weekend left pedestrians and police officers dead, and France wondering if radical groups like ISIS are taking the fight into their cities. But despite the attackers' seeming links to radical Islam, the jury is still out.

Updated

01/13/2015 - 4:45pm

The French prime minister, Manuel Valls, told parliament in Paris that the country is ‘at war’ with terrorism and radical Islamists. But he stressed France is not at war with Islam. Ten thousand troops are being deployed to protect potential targets, like Jewish schools.

This weekend, French President François Hollande confirmed that he is separating from his partner Valérie Trierweiler. The French seemed to shrug at the news of Hollande's affair with actress Julie Gayet, seeing love and politics as separate. But France's neighbors and its former colonies don't necessarily agree.

The ceasefire in Ukraine is shaky at best, and has failed to stop fighting in the eastern part of the country. And despite ongoing negotiations with Ukraine and Western leaders, it seems that's exactly how Russian President Vladimir Putin likes it.

French elections this past weekend have shaken up the political system. A prime minister resigned, a woman-immigrant was elected mayor of Paris for the first time, and a far-right fringe party may be gaining some serious traction among voters.

French President Francois Hollande won't go hungry Thursday night. He will host two separate state dinners — one for President Obama and another for Russian President Vladimir Putin. A White House chef explains the dance between food, politics and diplomacy.

French President François Hollande is having a hard time getting any traction with his political agenda. Meanwhile, US officials are having a tough time moving past the diplomatic row with India over a diplomat accused of mistreating her housekeeper. And in Italy, a politician is finally saying enough is enough — with the racism she faces.